‘Stay out of the woods’: N.S. issues strict restrictions as wildfire threat grows

Global News ^ | 8/5/2025

[EBH]

Nova Scotia has placed further restrictions on the public as the province faces a dry summer and heightened wildfire risk.

With a burn-ban already in place, officials announced on Tuesday that they’ve shuttered access to forests across the province – including parks – as of 4 p.m.

In an update Tuesday evening, HRM officials confirmed the provincial order includes municipal parks.

“We are telling Nova Scotians to stay out of the woods,” said Premier Tim Houston during a press conference.

The province-wide woods ban restricts the public from unnecessary travel into the forests and partake in activities including hiking, camping, fishing and the use of wood.

The public will also not be allowed to use vehicles in the woods or access trail systems.

Woods, as defined in the provincial Forests Act, include forested land, rock barren, brush land, dry marsh, bog or muskeg.

While camping is allowed, it is only permitted in official campgrounds.

Private landowners are free to use their own properties but cannot host other guests to use the wooded areas of their properties, the government said.

In the HRM release, the municipality clarified how areas in the municipality will be impacted, while also noting signage on closed areas make take several days to be put up.

“Parks that are all woods will be fully closed. Parks with non-woods areas – such as greenspaces, playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds – will remain open for use,” the HRM release reads.

“For parks which have both woods and non-woods areas, the woods are closed and the non-wooded areas remain open.”

The province says the restrictions will remain in place till Oct. 15 or until conditions allow them to be lifted.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: canada; eth; fires; novascotia

[EBH]

The fine for breaking the rules will result in a $25,000 fine – the same amount as the burn ban penalty, which was put in place last Wednesday.

[Don W]

These are the people that voted for Carney. They deserve the fine. They’re getting the government they deserve, good and hard.

The Maritime provinces are the welfare case provinces of Canada.

[No name given]

Not cool at all.

[GingisK]

Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

[Mogger]

In this case there's a good reason for this.

The woods are bone dry right now.

Two days ago I went to the end of the west side Indian Stream road in far northern NH near the Canadian border.

Most of the tributaries were bone dry. Three of the larger brooks still had a little water flowing. The grass in the middle of the road was dry.

I'm staying out of the woods until we get some rain. I don't want my catalytic converter to accidentally stare a fire.

[Mogger]

stare = start.

[linMcHlp]

bttt